Management control of household appliances using continuous tone-coded DSM signalling

ABSTRACT

A system and method of communicating between a master and a slave device for managing home energy are provided. A transmitter is operatively associated with one of a meter and a home energy manager for emitting a carrier signal at a selected frequency. A tone is superimposed on the selected carrier frequency and represents an operational energy cost level output from an associated utility. A receiver receives the emitted carrier signal with superimposed tone. A microcontroller associated with the home appliance then controls the home appliance in response to the emitted carrier signal with superimposed tone. Multiple distinct frequencies correlate to specific rates, and decoding or detecting the presence of one or more tones can be used to represent a binary number that allows the meter/controller to communicate “intelligence” with the home appliance.

The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/097,082 filed 15 Sep. 2008, now Ser. No.12/559,703, filed 15 Sep. 2009; which provisional patent application isexpressly incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety. Inaddition, cross-reference is made to commonly owned, copendingapplication Ser. No. 12/559,636, filed 15 Sep. 2009; Ser. No.12/559,528, filed 15 Sep. 2009; Ser. No. 12/559,539, filed 15 Sep. 2009;Ser. No. 12/559,654, filed 15 Sep. 2009; Ser. No. 12/559,581, filed 15Sep. 2009; Ser. No. 12/559,597, filed 15 Sep. 2009; Ser. No. 12/559,705,filed 15 Sep. 2009; Ser. No. 12/559,561, filed 15 Sep. 2009; Ser. No.12/559,577, filed 15 Sep. 2009; Ser. No. 12/559,751, filed 15 Sep. 2009;and Ser. No. 12/559,684, filed 15 Sep. 2009.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to energy management, and more particularly toenergy management of household consumer appliances. The disclosure findsparticular application to changing existing appliances via add-onfeatures or modules, and incorporating new energy saving features andfunctions into new appliances.

Currently utilities charge a flat rate, but with increasing cost of fuelprices and high energy usage at certain parts of the day, utilities haveto buy more energy to supply customers during peak demand. Consequently,utilities are charging higher rates during peak demand. If peak demandcan be lowered, then a potential huge cost savings can be achieved andthe peak load that the utility has to accommodate is lessened.

One proposed third party solution is to provide a system where acontroller “switches” the actual energy supply to the appliance orcontrol unit on and off. However, there is no active control beyond themere on/off switching. It is believed that others in the industry ceasesome operations in a refrigerator during on-peak time.

For example, in a refrigerator most energy is consumed to keep averagefreezer compartment temperature at a constant level. Recommendedtemperature level is based on bacteria multiplication. Normallyrecommended freezer temperature for long (1-2 month) food storage is 0degrees F. Research shows that bacteria rise is a linear function of thecompartment temperature, i.e., the lower the temperature the lower thebacteria multiplication. Refrigerator designers now use this knowledgeto prechill a freezer compartment (and in less degree a refrigeratorcompartment also) before defrost, thus keeping an average temperatureduring time interval that includes before, during, and after defrost atapproximately the same level (for example, 0 degrees F.).

There are also currently different methods used to determine whenvariable electricity-pricing schemes go into effect. There are phonelines, schedules, and wireless signals sent by the electrical company.One difficulty is that no peak shaving method for an appliance such as arefrigerator will provide a maximal benefit. Further, differentelectrical companies use different methods of communicating periods ofhigh electrical demand to their consumers. Other electrical companiessimply have rate schedules for different times of day.

Electrical utilities moving to an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)system will need to communicate to appliances, HVAC, water heaters, etc.in a home or office building. All electrical utility companies (morethan 3,000 in the US) will not be using the same communication method tosignal in the AMI system. Similarly, known systems do not communicatedirectly with the appliance using a variety of communication methods andprotocols, nor is a modular and standard method created forcommunication devices to interface and to communicate operational modesto the main controller of the appliance. Although conventionalWiFi/ZigBee/PLC communication solutions are becoming commonplace, thisdisclosure introduces numerous additional lower cost, reliable solutionsto trigger “load shedding” responses in appliances or other users ofpower. This system may also utilize the commonplace solutions as partsof the communication protocols.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure reduces power consumption during on-peak hours byreducing the energy demand on the power generation facility, and alsoenabling the user/consumer to pay less to operate the appliance on anannual basis.

This disclosure is a low-cost alternative to using expensive orcomplicated methods of determining when peak electrical rates apply. Forexample, when the refrigerator is in peak shaving mode (or it could beprogrammed to do this constantly), an ambient light sensor determineswhen it is morning, and then stays in energy-saving mode for apredetermined number of hours. Preferably, the system will need acounter to know that the room has been dark for a predetermined numberof hours. When the lights come on for a certain length of time, then thesystem knows, for example, that it is morning.

This disclosure provides a peak-shaving appliance such as arefrigerator, including a method to determine when to go intopeak-shaving mode without using additional components, or componentsthat have another purpose, and provides a high percentage of the maximumbenefit for negligible cost. The two components needed for this are anambient light sensor and a timer. The kitchen will be dark for anextended period of time while everyone is sleeping. The light sensor andthe timer will be used to determine that it is nighttime and morning canbe determined by the light sensor. When the refrigerator determines itis morning, the timer will be used to initiate peak shaving mode aftersome delay time. For example, peak shaving mode could start three hoursafter it is determined morning starts. Similarly, the ambient lightsensor can also be used for dimming the refrigerator lights. Thisdisclosure advantageously uses ambient light to determine when to startpeak shaving.

An appliance interface can be provided for all appliances leaving themodule to communicate with the AMI system. The system provides forappliance sales with a Demand Side Management capable appliance. TheDemand Side Management Module (DSMM) is provided to control the energyconsumption and control functions of an appliance using a communicationmethod (including but not limited to PLC, FM, AM SSB, WiFi, ZigBee,Radio Broadcast Data System, 802.11, 802.15.4, etc.). The modularapproach will enable an appliance to match electrical utilitycommunication requirements. Each electrical utility region may havedifferent communication methods, protocol methods, etc. This modularapproach allows an appliance to be adapted to a particular geographicalarea of a consumer or a particular electrical provider. The module canbe added as a follow on feature and applied after the appliance isinstalled. Typical installations could include an integral mountedmodule (inside the appliance or unit) or an externally mounted module(at the wall electrical receptacle or anywhere outside the appliance orunit). The module in this disclosure provides for 2 way communicationsif needed, and will provide for several states of operation—forexample, 1) normal operation, 2) operation in low energy mode (but notoff), and 3) operation in lowest energy mode.

This module could be powered from the appliance or via a separate powersupply, or with rechargeable batteries. The rechargeable batteries couldbe set to charge under off-peak conditions. With the module powered fromthe appliance, the appliance could turn it off until the applianceneeded to make a decision about power usage, eliminating the standbypower draw of the module. If powered separately, the appliance could goto a low energy state or completely off, while the module continued tomonitor rates.

Use of RFID tags in one proposed system should offer significant savingssince the RFID tags have become very low cost due to the proliferationof these devices in retail and will effectively allow the enabledappliance to effectively communicate with the utility meter (e.g.,receive signals from the utility meter). This system makes it very easyfor a customer to manage energy usage during peak demand periods andlowers the inconvenience level to the customer by not shutting offappliances in the home by the utility. When local storage and localgeneration are integrated into the system, then cost savings are seen bythe customer. This system also solves the issue of rollingbrownouts/blackouts caused by excessive power demand by lowering theoverall demand. Also, the system allows the customer to pre-programchoices into the system that will ultimately lower utility demand aswell as save the customer money in the customer's utility billing. Forinstance, the customer may choose to disable the defrost cycle of arefrigerator during peak rate timeframes. This disclosure provides forthe controller to “communicate” with the internal appliance controlboard and command the appliance to execute specific actions with nocurtailment in the energy supply. This disclosure further provides amethod of communicating data between a master device and one or moreslave devices using RFID technology. This can be a number of states orsignals, either using one or more passive RFID tags that resonate atdifferent frequencies resonated by the master, or one or more activeRFID tags that can store data that can be manipulated by the masterdevice and read by the slave device(s). The states in either the passiveor active RFID tags can then be read by the microcontroller on the slavedevice(s) and appropriate functions/actions can be taken based uponthese signals.

Another exemplary embodiment uses continuous coded tones riding oncarrier frequencies to transmit intelligence, for example, when one ismerely passing rate information such as rate 1, 2, 3, or 4, using thetones to transmit the signals. One could further enhance the details ofthe messaging by assigning a binary number to a given tone, thusallowing one to “spell out” a message using binary coding with multipletones. The appliance microcomputer would be programmed to respond to agiven number that would arrive in binary format.

A system and method of communicating between and master and slave deviceincludes transmitting a carrier signal at a preselected frequency from amaster device to a slave device. Adding a tone to the carrier signalindicative of a cost of energy level, receiving the carrier signal withtone at the slave device, and providing an option to a controller tocontrol energy usage within the home in response to the received carriersignal with tone.

The transmitting step includes using a carrier signal which is a RFsignal.

The method includes providing one of multiple distinct tones torepresent rates such as “low”, “medium”, “high”, and “critical modes ofoperation”.

The method includes controlling operation of a home appliance inresponse to the carrier signal with added tone, and optionallyre-transmitting a signal indicative of receipt of the signal with tone.

One advantage of this approach is that customers have complete controlof their power. There have been proposals by utilities to shut offcustomers if they exceed demand limits or increase the number of rollingbrownouts. This method also gives a customer finer granulity in theirhome in terms of control. A customer does not have to load shed a roomjust to manage a single device.

This disclosure also advantageously provides modes of load shedding inthe appliance, lighting, or HVAC other than “on/off” to make thesituation more acceptable from the perspective of the customer.

An advantage of the present disclosure is the ability to produceappliances with a common interface and let the module deal with theDemand Side Management.

Another advantage is the ability to control functions and featureswithin the appliance and/or unit at various energy levels, i.e., asopposed to just an on/off function.

The system and method is not only low cost, but reliable and proventechnology for transmitting and receiving specific messages using simpleRF circuits.

Another advantage is that the consumer can choose the module or choosenot to have the module. If the module is chosen, it can be matched tothe particular electrical utility service provider communication methodof the consumer.

Another benefit is the increased flexibility with an associatedelectrical service provider, and the provision of several modes ofoperation (not simply an on/off mode). The module can be placed orpositioned inside or outside the appliance and/or unit to provide demandside management.

Still other benefits relate to modularity, the ability to handlemultiple communication methods and protocols without adversely impactingthe cost of the appliance, opening up appliances to a variety ofprotocols, enabling demand side management or energy management, and/orproviding for a standard interface to the appliance (for example,offering prechill and/or temperature set change during on-peak hours).

Low cost, reliable RF transmissions within the home, rather than usingindustrial solutions such as PLC or Zigbee solutions which aresignificantly more costly than the aforementioned system, are yetanother benefit.

Still other features and benefits of the present disclosure will becomeapparent from reading and understanding the following detaileddescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-8, 9A, 9B, and 10-21 illustrate various systems and method ofexemplary embodiments described herein.

FIG. 22 is a schematic representation of a system and method for usingcontinuous tone-coded transmissions for communicating between a meter orcontroller/home energy manager and one or more home appliances.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In one embodiment, a more advanced system is provided to handle energymanagement between the utility and the homeowner's appliances. Thesystem can include one or more of the following: a controller, utilitymeter, communication network, intelligent appliances, local storage,local generator and/or demand server. Less advanced systems may actuallyallow the appliance to “communicate directly with the utility meter ormesh network through the DSSM (Demand Side Management Module) (FIG. 1).The demand server is a computer system that notifies the controller whenthe utility is in peak demand and what is the utility's current demandlimit. A utility meter can also provide the controller the occurrence ofpeak demand and demand limit. The demand limit can also be set by thehome owner. Additionally, the homeowner can choose to force variousmodes in the appliance control based on the rate the utility is chargingat different times of the day. The controller will look at the energyconsumption currently used by the home via the utility meter and see ifthe home is exceeding the demand limit read from the server. If thedemand limit is exceeded, the controller will notify the intelligentappliances, lighting and thermostat/HVAC (FIG. 2).

Each intelligent appliance has a communication interface that linksitself to the controller (FIG. 3). This interface can be power-linecarrier, wireless, and/or wired. The controller will interact with theappliance and lighting controls as well as thermostat (for HVAC) toexecute the users preferences/settings.

Enabled appliances receive signals from the utility meter and help lowerthe peak load on the utility and lower the amount of energy that theconsumer uses during high energy cost periods of the day. There areseveral ways to accomplish this, through wireless communication (ZigBee,WiFi, etc) or through PLC (power line carrier) communication.Alternatively, using passive RFID tags that resonate at differentfrequencies resonated by the master, or one or more active RFID tagsthat can store data that can be manipulated by the master device andread by the slave devices(s) is an effective and potentially lower costcommunication solution since there is no protocol. Rather, a pulse ofenergy at a particular frequency will allow a low cost method with anopen protocol for transmitting/communicating between a master device andone or more slave devices, and appropriate functions/actions can betaken based upon these signals.

The interaction between controller and appliances can occur in two ways.For example, in one scenario during a peak demand period, the controllerwill receive a demand limit from the utility, demand server or user. Thecontroller will then allocate the home's demand based on two factors:priority of the appliance and energy need level (FIG. 4). The prioritydictates which appliances have higher priority to be in full or partialenergy mode than other appliances. Energy need dictates how much energyis required for a certain time period in order for that appliance tofunction properly. If the appliance's energy need is too low to functionproperly, the appliance moves to a normal mode or a higher energy needlevel. The energy saving mode is typically a lower energy usage mode forthe appliance such as shutdowns of compressors and motors, delayedcycles, higher operating temperatures in summer or lower operatingtemperatures in winter until the peak demand period is over. Once thedemand limit is reached, the appliances will stay in their energy modeuntil peak demand is over, or a user overrides, or appliance finishesneed cycle or priority changes. The controller constantly receivesstatus updates from the appliances in order to determine which statethey are in and in order to determine if priorities need to change toaccomplish the system goals.

In a second scenario, for example, a set point is provided. During apeak demand period, the controller will tell each appliance to go intopeak demand mode (FIG. 5). The appliance will then go into a lowerenergy mode. The customer can deactivate the energy savings mode byselecting a feature on the appliance front end controls (i.e. userinterface board) before or during the appliance use or at thecontroller. The controller can also communicate to a local storage orpower generation unit. This local unit is connected to the incomingpower supply from the utility. The controller notifies the storage unitto charge when it is not in peak demand, if a storage unit is includedand available. If the storage unit has enough energy to supply theappliances during peak demand, then the controller will switch thehome's energy consumption from the utility to the storage unit. The unitcan also be local generator/storage such as solar, hydrogen fuel cell,etc.

The central controller handles energy management between the utility andhome appliances, lighting, thermostat/HVAC, etc. with customer choicesincorporated in the decision making process. The controller may includenotification of an energy saving mode based on demand limit read fromone or more of a utility meter, utility, demand server or user. Anenergy savings mode of an appliance can thereby be controlled orregulated based on priority and energy need level sent from thecontroller and/or the customer (FIG. 6). Likewise, consideration to useof local energy storage and use of a local generator to offset peakdemand limit can be incorporated into the energy managementconsiderations, or provide the ability to override mode of energysavings through the controller or at the appliance, lighting, orthermostat/HVAC (FIGS. 7 and 8).

The present disclosure has the ability for the home to shed loads inpending brown-out or black-out situations, yet have intelligence toprevent an improper action such as shutting down the refrigerator forextended timeframes that might compromise food storage safety.

How much energy the appliance consumes in peak demand is based onpriority of the device and the energy need level. If the appliance'spriority is high, then the appliance will most likely not go into asaving mode. The energy need level is based on how little energy theappliance can consume during peak demand and still provide the functionsetting it is in (i.e. in a refrigerator, ensuring that the temperatureis cool enough to prevent spoiling). It will also be appreciated that anappliance may have multiple energy need levels.

The controller will be the main product with the communication andsettings control incorporated within future appliances. Specific meterswill be selected so that the controller can read the demand usage. It isintended that the demand server will possibly be purchased or leased tothe utility.

A method is provided for constructing an appliance designed to performany key function, the appliance comprises of several mechanical andelectrical elements controlled by a main controller. This maincontroller has a port for receiving information regarding theoperational state of the appliance. The port also has a user interfaceor switch which could be used to override the information received bythe controller through the port. Two-way or one-way communicationdevices may be connected to the port. These communication devices willreceive signals from a remote controller, process those signals and as aresult communicate an operational state to the main controller of theappliance. This operational state is communicated to the main controllerby one or more remote controllers in a specific format determined by theappliance. These signals from the remote controller(s) could be based ona variety of communication methods and associated protocols. Onreceiving the operational state signal, the appliance main controllercauses the appliance to run a predetermined operational mode. Theseoperational modes are designed into the appliance(s) and result indifferent resource consumption levels or patterns, even delaying use.Resources could include energy, water, air, heat, sunlight, time, etc.In future appliance models, the consumer might be given the authority tomodify the appliance responses to a given rate signal. The consumerwould be presented a “check box” of potential response modes and allowedto choose within set parameters. For instance, the consumer might beallowed to choose the amount of temperature adjustment a refrigeratorwill make in response to a high utility rate.

A method of communicating data between a master device and one or moreslave devices may advantageously use continuous tone-coded transmissionsystem. This can be a number of states or signals, either using one ormore continuous tones that signify different rate states coming from thehome area network (from meter) or the utility. Additionally, one couldsend a combination of tones to transmit binary messages using a fewtones. The slave devices will incorporate a receiver that receives thecarrier frequency and then decodes the continuous tone which correspondsto the particular state of the utility rate. Once the “receiver board”detects the tone, then the downstream circuitry will trigger theappropriate response in the appliance. The carrier frequency in thisscheme can be numerous spectrums, one being the FM broadcast band or aspecific FM band allocated by the FCC for low level power output. Theadvantage of broadcast band FM is the low cost of such devices and thepotential to penetrate walls, etc. within a home with very low levels ofpower due to the long wavelength of the 89-106 Mhz carrier. This processis used today in 2-way radio communications to reduce the annoyance oflistening to multiple users on shared 2-way radio frequencies. Theprocess in these radios is referred to as CTCSS (continuous tone-codedsquelch system) and would find application in this end use.

Generally, it is not known to have modular interfaces that can receivesignals from a control source. Also, no prior arrangements havefunctioned by addressing the control board of the appliance with asignal that directs the appliance to respond.

Thus, by way of example only, the structure and/or operation of arefrigerator (FIG. 9, although other appliances are also represented)may be modified or altered by reducing the temperature, especially inthe freezer compartment pre on-peak time and further temporarily providea compartment temperature increase to shave on-peak load. Specifically,defrost operation could be delayed until off-peak time. Alternatively orconjunctively, the freezer and refrigerator temperature setpoints may beset to maintain less compressor on time during on-peak demand times.Similarly, the refrigerator/freezer could be programmed so that lightswill not be permitted to come on or the lights must be dimmed lightsduring on-peak demand times. During on-peak demand times, the fanoperating speeds can be reduced, and/or compressor operating speedreduced in order to reduce energy consumption. Still another option isto reduce the delay time for the door alarm to sound during on-peaktime. Other power load reducing measures in a refrigerator may include(reducing before on-peak hours) the temperature of the freezer andrefrigerator compartments in a refrigerator (prechill) and slightlyincrease temperature setting during on-peak rates. For example, justbefore peak rate time, the temperature setting could be decreased by 1-2degrees (during off-peak rates). Some communication line with theelectrical company could be established. Thus, the electrical companymay be able to send a signal in advance to prechill the refrigerator (orin the case of an air conditioner, decrease the room temperature duringoff-peak rates as a pre-chill maneuver) and, in turn, increase thetemperature setting during on-peak rates.

Still other energy consuming practices of the exemplary refrigeratorthat may be altered include turning the ice-maker off during on-peakdemand times, or disabling the crushed ice mode during on-peak demandtimes. Alternatively, the consumer may be given the ability to selectvia a user interface which items are incorporated into the on-peakdemand via an enable/disable menu, or to provide input selection such asentry of a zip code (FIG. 10) in order to select the utility company andtime of use schedule (FIG. 11), or using a time versus day of the weekschedule input method (FIGS. 12-13).

The user interface may also incorporate suggested energy saving tips orshow energy usage, or provide an indicator during on-peak mode, orprovide a counter to illustrate the energy impact of door opening, orshowing an energy calculator to the consumer to serve as a reminder ofthe impact of certain selections/actions on energy use or energyconservation (FIGS. 14-19).

One path that is being pursued from the appliance perspective is toallow the onboard CPU (microprocessor) of the appliance to determine howto respond to an incoming signal asking for a load shedding response.For example, the CPU will turn on, turn off, throttle, delay, adjust, ormodify specific functions and features in the appliance to provide aturndown in power consumption (FIG. 20). FIG. 21 defines specificallyexemplary modes of what are possible. The main feature here is theenabling of the main board microprocessor or CPU to execute actions inthe appliance to deliver load shedding (lowering power consumption atthat instant). The actions available in each appliance are only limitedto the devices that the CPU has control over, which are nearly all ofthe electrical consuming devices in an appliance. This may work betterwhere the appliance has an electronic control versus anelectromechanical control.

Of course, the above description focuses on the refrigerator but theseconcepts are equally applicable to other home appliances such asdishwashers, water heaters, washing machines, clothes dryers,televisions (activate a recording feature rather than turning on thetelevision), etc., and the list is simply representative and notintended to be all encompassing.

Likewise, although these concepts have been described with respect toappliances, they may find application in areas other than appliances andother than electricity usage. For example, a controller that acts as anintermediary between the utilities meter and the appliance interpretsthe utility signal, processes it and then submits this signal to theappliance for the prescribed reaction. In a similar fashion, thecontroller may find application to other household utilities, forexample, natural gas and water within the home. One can equip the waterand gas meters to measure flow rates and then drive responses to a gaswater heater or gas furnace precisely like the electrical case. Thiswould assume that one might experience variable gas and water rates inthe future. Secondly, the flow meters being connected to the controllercould provide a consumer with a warning as to broken or leaking waterlines by comparing the flow rate when a given appliance or appliancesare on to the normal consumption. In cases where safety is a concern,the system could stop the flow of gas or water based on the dataanalysis.

Another feature might be the incorporation of “remote subscription” forthe utility benefit. In some cases, the utility will be providingcustomers discounts/rebates for subscribing to DSM in their appliances,hot water heaters, etc. The “remote subscription” feature would allowthe utility to send a signal that would “lockout” the consumer fromdisabling the feature since they were on the “rebate” program.

Another feature that the controller lends itself to is the inclusion of“Remote diagnostics”. This feature would allow the appliance to send asignal or message to the controller indicating that something in theappliance was not up to specifications. The controller could then relaythis signal to the utility or to the appliance manufacturer via thevarious communication avenues included into the controller (i.e., WIFI,WIMAX, Broadband, cell phone, or any other formats that the controllercould “speak”).

In the case of a remote subscription, the utilities today rely on thehonesty of their subscribers to leave the DSM system functional. Somepeople may receive the discounts/rebate and then disable the featurethat drives the load shedding. With this system, the utility can ensurethat the feature will be enabled and provide the proper load shedding.

As briefly noted above, the present disclosure contemplates usingcontinuous tone-coded transmission between a master device and one ormore slave devices. Generally in telecommunications, a CTCSS (continuoustone-coded squelch system) refers to a two-way radio system allowingmaster and slave devices to operate on a predetermined frequency whileother master and slave devices are also operating on the same frequency.Because the audio for one of these two-way radio systems is able toreceive all transmissions on a particular frequency, this can beparticularly problematic where for example one company wants tocommunicate only with its employees and discriminate/remove othertransmissions on the same frequency. CTCSS is often called PL tone ortone, and is available under a wide number of brand names such asPrivate Line, Channel Guard, Quiet Channel, Quiet Talk, ToneGuard,CallGuard, or ToneLock. Generally speaking, installation of CTCSScapabilities for radio transceivers enables a receiver to detect asub-audible tone that is superimposed on a transmitted signal. Thus, thetransmitted signal or carrier is at a frequency, e.g., 900 mHz, thatcommunicates with a receiver that likewise is normally responsive to a900 mHz signal. However, the transmission includes a side band signal,or sub-audible tone, so that the receiver is only responsive to theparticular frequency with the particular tone frequency, e.g. a 900 mHZprimary signal with a 151.4 Hz tone frequency on the carrier signal.

With reference to FIG. 22, meter 100 at the home is in operativecommunication with a utility 102 or another device that provides dataindicative of energy costs. As noted previously, during high demand,utilities may charge a premium for energy. In some critical situations,the homeowner may opt to use a local storage or a local generator 104for its energy needs. A controller 110 is provided in the home and maybe adjacent the meter, or may be remotely located thereto. Thecontroller is oftentimes referred to as a home energy manager (HEM) andis intended to receive information from the meter including the dataregarding operational costs of the energy. Part of the controller is anemitter or transmitter 112 that emits a signal 114 from antenna 116,such as a radio frequency signal, that is detected through a receiverantenna 118 associated with a remotely located home appliance 130. Aswill be appreciated, although only a pair of home appliances 130, 130′are shown the homeowner may have multiple home appliances adapted toadvantageously use the information transmitted from the controller.

The home appliance includes a microcontroller 132 which monitors one ormore tone frequencies represented at 134, 136, 138, 140. Although thehome appliance is enabled to receive the carrier signal 114 that ismatched to the frequency of the carrier signal via the antenna 118, themicrocontroller would not be enabled unless a particular tone on thecarrier frequency is also present. If the tone is present, themicrocontroller 132 detects the carrier signal with the correct CTCSStone (i.e., decodes the signal) and thereby prompts the homeowner withregard to particular data, such as the operational costs associated withthe energy, a preferred or suggested mode of operation, etc

The homeowner may have already preselected a course of action inresponse to one or more of the tones being received by programmingcontroller 110 as desired. Alternatively, the homeowner can be promptedand the particular home appliance actuated for an alternative mode ofoperation based on this data.

It is also contemplated that the tones could be used to transmit signalsor combinations of tones to “spell out” a binary signal. By assigningbinary digits to four separate tones, for example, “intelligence” can becommunicated for numbers up to 99, depending on either the presence orabsence or one or more of the four tones. Four tones can be sufficientlyseparated to provide the desired granularity, for example, level 1=131.3Hz, level 2=151.4 Hz, level 3=173.8 Hz, and level 4=192.8 Hz. If allfour tones are absent, the binary digits represent [0000] for example,or if all four tones are present, the binary digits could be [1111],with other permutations and combinations available depending on whethera particular tone or combination of tones is present.

The particular home appliance could also, in turn, re-transmit a replysignal or a reply carrier signal with superimposed tones to acknowledgereceipt of the signal from the controller/HEM. In this manner,controller 110 would be equipped with transceiver 112 to both transmitand receive signals associated with one or more home appliances. Thehomeowner, and possibly the utility, would have first hand informationregarding the operational mode of one or more home appliances based onthe data received by the controller/HEM.

The carrier signal is preferably an RF signal (which is advantageoussince the RF signal is able to communicate through walls in a home), andmore particularly may be an FM signal, that has multiple distinct tonesto represent different energy rates, for example, “low”, “medium”,“high”, and “critical” modes of operation. If desired, the homeowner maypreprogram or be prompted to select a desired operation of one or morehome appliances based on this information. If no master controller orHEM is employed, the same information may be available adjacent themeter as represented by a transceiver 150 and each appliance 130, 130′,etc., prompts the homeowner through a user interface to select thedesired operational mode for the appliance.

In summary, a method of communicating data between a master device andone or more slave devices using continuous tone-coded transmission(CTCSS) is provided. A number of states or signals, either using eitherone or more continuous tones signifying different rate states, comingfrom a home energy manager/controller, or alternatively from theutility, may be used. Additionally, a combination of tones could beemployed to transmit binary messages using a few tones simultaneously.The slave devices incorporate a receiver that receives the carrierfrequency and then decodes the continuous tone which corresponds to theparticular state of the utility rate. Once the receiver or themicrocontroller detects the tone, then downstream circuitry will triggeran appropriate response in the, appliance, or prompt the homeowner toselect a desired response. The carrier frequency in this scheme can benumerous spectrums, one being RF or FM broadcast band, or a specific FMband allocated by the FCC for low-level power input. The advantage ofusing FM transmission bands is the low cost of such devices and thepotential to penetrate walls within a home with very low levels of powerdue to the long wavelength of the 89 to 106 mHz carrier signal. Tonesriding on these carrier frequencies transmit intelligence and can passalong energy rate information such as level 1, 2, 3, or 4 which may berepresentative of “low”, “medium”, “high”, and “critical” costsassociated with energy consumption.

The invention has been described with reference to the preferredembodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur toothers upon reading and understanding the preceding detaileddescription. It is intended that the invention be construed as includingall such modifications and alterations.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of communicating between a master deviceand a slave device for managing home energy comprising: transmitting acarrier signal at a preselected frequency from a master device in a hometo a slave device in the home; adding a tone to the carrier signalindicative of a cost of energy level; receiving the carrier signal withtone at the slave device; providing an option to a controller to controlenergy usage within the home in response to the received carrier signalwith the added tone; and retransmitting a signal indicative of receiptof the carrier signal with the added tone from the slave device to themaster device.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitting stepincludes using a carrier signal frequency that can penetrate one or morewalls of an associated home.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein thecarrier signal is a radio frequency (RF) signal.
 4. The method of claim1 wherein the adding step includes providing one of four distinct tonesto represent low, medium, high, and critical modes of operation.
 5. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the adding step includes adding multiple tonesto the carrier signal.
 6. The method of claim 1 further comprisingcontrolling operation of a home appliance in response to the carriersignal with the added tone.
 7. A system for communicating data relatingto home energy comprising: a transmitter in a home for emitting acarrier signal at a selected frequency with an added tone representativeof energy operational costs; a receiver in the home for receiving theemitted carrier signal with the added tone; and a controller operativelyconnected to the receiver that provides an option of controlling anoperational mode of an associated home appliance in response to thecarrier signal with the added tone; and a second transmitter operativelyassociated with the associated home appliance for confirming receipt ofthe carrier signal with the added tone.
 8. The system of claim 7 whereinthe transmitter is operatively associated with a home meter incommunication with an associated utility for providing the carriersignal with the added tone to the associated home appliance.
 9. Thesystem of claim 7 wherein the transmitter is operatively associated witha home energy manager that receives information from an associatedutility and provides the carrier signal with the added tone to theassociated home appliance.
 10. The system of claim 7 wherein thetransmitter emits a signal with one of four distinct tonesrepresentative of low, medium, high, and critical energy modes.
 11. Thesystem of claim 7 wherein the selected frequency of the carrier signalis in the frequency modulation (FM) band.
 12. A system for communicatingenergy operational cost data to an associated home appliance comprising:a transmitter in a home operatively associated with one of a meter and ahome energy manager for emitting a carrier signal at a selectedfrequency having a tone superimposed thereon representative of anoperational energy cost level output from an associated utility; areceiver in the home for receiving the emitted carrier signal with thesuperimposed tone; a controller operatively connected to one of the homeenergy manager and an associated home appliance for controlling energyuse by the associated home appliance in response to the emitted carriersignal with the superimposed tone; and a second transmitter operativelyassociated with the associated home appliance for confirming receipt ofthe carrier signal with the added tone.
 13. The system of claim 12wherein the tone is one of four distinct frequencies that correlate tolow, medium, high, and critical operational modes of operation for theassociated home appliance.
 14. The system of claim 12 wherein the secondtransmitter is operatively connected to the controller of the associatedhome appliance for retransmitting from the associated home appliancethat the emitted carrier signal with the superimposed tone was receivedthereby.
 15. The system of claim 12 wherein the transmitter emits morethan one tone superimposed on the carrier signal.
 16. A method ofcommunicating between a master device and a slave device for managinghome energy comprising: transmitting a carrier signal at a preselectedfrequency from a master device in a home to a slave device in the home;adding a tone to the carrier signal indicative of a demand state of anenergy providing utility; receiving the carrier signal with the addedtone at the slave device; providing an option to a controller to controlenergy usage within the home in response to the received carrier signalwith the added tone; and retransmitting a signal indicative of receiptof the carrier signal with the added tone from the slave device to themaster device.
 17. A system for communicating data relating to homeenergy comprising: a transmitter in a home for emitting a carrier signalat a selected frequency with an added tone representative of the demandstate of an energy providing utility; a receiver in the home forreceiving the emitted carrier signal with the added tone; and acontroller operatively connected to the receiver that provides an optionof controlling an operational mode of an associated home appliance inresponse to the carrier signal with the added tone; and a secondtransmitter operatively associated with the associated home appliancefor confirming receipt of the carrier signal with the added tone. 18.The method of claim 1, wherein the retransmitted signal is furtherindicative of a current operational mode of a given home appliance. 19.The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of, responsive toreceiving the retransmitted signal, transmitting a control signalindicative of a requested operational mode from the master device to theslave device, the requested operational mode being a function of thecurrent operational mode and the cost of energy level.